Word for Word: A hooray for Halloween

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 8, 2001

This letter appeared on the Web site HalloweenMagazine.com, which "(provides) the best in fun and information regarding Halloween," a week after the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States.

"We have been told by the President to resume normal life. . . . Normal life at this time would mean, for many people, preparing for the second-largest retail holiday of the year, Halloween. This would mean purchasing many icons, such as costumes, props, and decorations that represent horror and death. Perusing the stores we see tombstones, body parts, and soundtracks of people screaming are being sold. In the past these were fanciful items, not to be taken seriously, but the past week we have heard real screams and seen real bodies.

"Does this mean that Halloween is to be ignored this year? Should we not decorate the front of our houses like graveyards or have ghosts hanging from our trees? There is a line to be drawn, but where? . . .

"It is not in good taste to dress up as a victim of this attack or even a collapsing tower. It is also not a good idea to place the names of those missing on tombstones or to make it a scene that looks like a plane crash. It is best to use common sense and good judgment. If you cannot depend on your own judgment then ask others around you their opinion before embarking on a task that may bring you more jeers than cheers. HalloweenMagazine.com is a good resource.

"Halloween has become an essential holiday for the United States. Halloween helps bring friends and family together. Many neighbors meet for the first time while their children go trick-or-treating. Halloween is a multi-billion dollar industry that boosts the United States economy more than any other holiday except Christmas.

"Not only should we celebrate Halloween, we should be more enthusiastic about one of our favorite holidays than we ever have.

"Halloween is good for America!"

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